The Official Blog of Debra Gano: CEO of BYOU, Author of Heartlight Girls Book Series & Self-Esteem Expert

 A very Happy Father’s Day to all Heartlight dads! While we talk a lot about the role moms play in a girl’s life, we also want to acknowledge the very important role dads play, too.

Dads, your positive influence in your daughter’s life is essential to her self-esteem and her future relationships. In my book, Beauty’s Secret, A Girl’s Discovery of Inner Beauty, the main character’s dad innocently teases her about her eyes, only to have Beauty become self-conscious about them, especially in the self-questioning teenage years. I wrote this in because my dad liked (and still does!) to tease me, it’s just his way fo relating, as it is with so many dads. But often I believed it as truth, especially when the insecurities rose. It was only when I learned my own truth of who I truly am that I was able to step back from this and see it was his way of showing his love. My goal with girls is to have them learn this same truth about themselves at a much younger age than I did, so they don’t have to carry any false belief (whether it be planted from a parent, teacher, or peer) about themselves into adulthood.

So, dads, please know that your daughter is paying attention to everything you say and do, and that you mean the world to her (even though she may not act like it sometimes!) By helping her to build her self-worth though the formative years, you help her to make future wise choices and set her up for a lifetime of inner security and happiness. And for that, we thank you, and for your committment to your daughter’s well-being. And Heartlight Girls, if you can, give your dad an extra big hug this Father’s Day! My dad lives in another state, so I’m sending him an energetic hug and saying, "Love you Dad! And thanks for the lessons!"